Power driven toothbrush



Dec. 5, 1950 J. F. CANNON POWER DRIVEN TOOTHBRUSH Filed July 26. 1947Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER DRIVENTOOTHBRUSH John F. Cannon, Springfield, 111.

Application July 26, 1947, Serial No. 763,900

12 Claims.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as powerdriven brushes or the like, and particularly to a compact tooth brush inwhich a suitable brush may be positioned within the mouth and rotated bymeans of a fractional horsepower or other motor so as to give a thoroughbrushing action.

The device has among its objects the production of an appliance of thekind described that is simple, eflicient, of light weight, andattractive in appearance, which in operation may be caused to dischargetooth paste or tooth powder to the brush.

The motor is preferably the reversible type which may be reversed tofacilitate the brushing of the upper or lower teeth on either side ofthe mouth. The same is particularly efficient and satisfactory for thecleaning or polishing of artificial teeth.

The invention has among its further objects the novel construction inwhich the dentifrice such as paste, powder or other cleaning material isfed through the brush driving shaft to the brush, and a novelcontrolling means for a material feeding device which will enable thedevice to feed from the magazine containing the material into the shaftwhen the shaft is being driven in either direction.

A further object is a new and novel means of connecting a suitable brushto the drive shaft.

A further object is the production of" a device in which the feeding ofthe material may be controlled while the motor is running so that thebrush in action may be continuous and, if desired, the feeding ofmaterial be intermittent, the motor and feeding being under the controlof the user so as to control the operation of the device as desired.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure herein given.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts:

Fig. l is a sectional view through my improved device, the reversible,fractional horsepower motor and. control switch therefor not being shownin detail since the same in itself, other than in the combination, formsno part of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantial y on line 22. of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

All. of the figures are on enlarged scales.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2', the reference character Iindicates generally a casing or housing serving as the material magazineas well as a portion. of the handle. The casing l which may beconstructed in any suitable manner, as shown consists of the two partsor sections 22 divided on a line as indicated at 3, the two beingrabbeted together and affording a tight fit. At the interior of thecasing is provided a chamber or magazine 4 which contains the materialto be fed to the brush hereinafter described.

Arranged at the end of the casing or housing I is a motor housing 5which, as shown, is arranged to slip over the end of the portion l andmaintain the two sections 2 together, the whole being maintained inassembled relation by screws 9 or the equivalent. The reversible,fractional horsepower motor which is not shown in detail, is arrangedwithin the shell 5.

The casing l is provided with an extending portion or shaft housing 6through which extends a tubular shaft 1 operably connected to thearmature shaft of the motor. Arranged at the end of the extendingportion 6 is a brush 8 of suitable construction which is operativelyconnected with the shaft 1 in the manner hereinafter described.

The two parts 6 may be suitably secured together by means of a screw orbolt I9. There are also provided bearings and stufiing boxes ll, one ofwhich is supported by the transverse partition l2 at the motor housingend of the handle portion I. A split ring l3 sealed in grooves in thebrush and extension 6 removably secures the brush to the extension 6.

Arranged on the shaft I within the chamber 4 is a sleeve M which carriesa spiral conveying member l5. One end of the sleeve I4 is arranged toengage with the collar 16 secured on the shaft, while the other end isconstructed for engagement with the clutch member I! which is splined tothe shaft and slidable thereon. The clutch member I! is controlled oroperated by means of a bell crank 202l, the portion 20 being in the formof a yoke as shown in Fig. 2 and provided with lugs is engaging in aperipheral groove in the clutch member H. The clutch is controlled bymeans of an operating, member 23 engaging with the bell crank arm 2!, aspring 24 or its equivalent normally maintaining the button 23 out andthe clutch disengaged. As shown, a stop 25 is provided at the inner endof the button 23 and a stuffing box 2t2l arranged to prevent leakagealong the stem of the button.

There is also provided a valve mechanism controlling the feeding ofmaterial into the tubular shaft '5 when the shaft is rotated in eitherdirection. The valve mechanism is indicated gen- 1 erally by thereference character 29 and, as shown in Fig. 2, may consist of a valvehousing 3fl3l arranged at each of the ports or openings in the shaft.Each housing is provided with an opening 32 and the feeding of thematerial controlled by a ball valve 33 and spring M which normallymaintains the valve in its closed position except when the conveyor ismoving in a direction to feed material in the direction of the valve.When the feed mechanism is operated in one direction, material may enterthe tubular shaft past one of the valves, but material in the shaftcannot flow back into the chamber A. When the motor is reversed thefeeding is past the other valve and the first mention d valve preventsits discharge back into the chamber l. An opening normally closed by aplug or closure 35 may be provided in the casing to permit charging ofthe magazine.

Arranged at the outer end of the portion 6 are the gears 3'! and 33, 31being rigidly secured to the end of the tubular shaft 7, while the gear38 is rigidly connected with the shaft 39, shaft 39 extending throughand into a brush carrying member consisting of a partition 4-9 and outerend Gil connected by a slotted section ts having slots or openings 53atherein. As shown, a tubular passage 4&- is provided from the end of thetubular shaft l to the partition as which is in the form of a spiderwith openings 3! through the same through which the material may flowfrom the tubular shaft through as and into the slotted member 43 mountedon the shaft 39.

While any suitable brush may be employed for the purpose, I have shownthe brush consisting of the bristles designated generally as 8 carriedby a rubber or like sleeve Q5 which may be snapped over the lip (it withthe portion i'l engaging with the lip, retaining the brush in place, andmaintaining the parts assembled. W'hen it is desired to change brushes,as for example for difierent individuals, the brush may be slipped offand a new brush inserted. The sleeve 45 is provided with perforations t2through which the dentifrice may flow to the bristles.

As was before mentioned, the reversible motor is not shown in detail.The motor housing 5 may be provided with a removable cap '39 so that themotor may be readily positioned within the housing and a reversingswitch 56 is arranged at the end of the cap, 5! being the conductorsextending to the motor. The parts 5 and 49 may be secured together byscrews 52 or their equivalents.

In use material such as dentifrices may be placed in the magazine lthrough the opening normally closed by the plug 35. When the switch isoperated to drive the motor the shaft i is rotated, the connectionbetween the motor and shaft a being either direct or through reductiongears, not shown in detail, thereby rotating the shaft and the brush atthe end of the shaft housing 6. With the button 23 as shown, the clutchis released and consequently the shaft is driven without any drive ofthe conveyor screw or blade I5.

Assuming that the motor is driven in a direction to cause the materialto be fed toward the brush, when the button 23 is depressed, clutchmember I! will engage with the sleeve I t, driving the sleeve andblades, moving material toward the brush, and the pressure of thematerial will force the same past the valve at the brush end and intothe tubular shaft and into the brush and out between the bristles. Whenthe button is released the feeding of the material immediately stops. Ifthe motor is reversed the feeding will be in the opposite direction inthe housing and the material enter the tubular shaft past the valve atthe opposite end. Feeding may be intermittently controlled by operatingthe clutch control button 23.

It will thus be seen that the brush 8 may be rotated in either directionat will and the material may be fed into the brush at will andintermittently regardless of the direction of rotation of the brush. Itwill also be seen that it is a simple matter to change brushes. Theparticular construction of brush has some advantages, an important onebeing that it is not rigidly secured to the driving member and is moreor less flexible or yielding so that danger of injury to the mouth isobviated. While I have not shown a guard partially encircling the brushto prevent contact of the brush with the cheek at the inside of themouth, such guard may be readily constructed and provided.

While I have particularly referred to the device as a tooth brush, it isobvious that the same may be used wherever found applicable where abrush of this type is desired.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tooth brush comprising a casing providing a magazine for adentifrice and a shaft housing, a motor driven hollow shaft journaled insaid casing, a spiral conveyor mounted on said shaft in said magazineand there being an inlet port to said hollow shaft in said magazinethrough which the spiral conveyor feeds dentifrice to the hollow shaft,a manually operable clutch means between the hollow shaft and spiralconveyor, and a revolvable cylindrical brush secured on the free end ofthe shaft housing, said brush having a hollow slotted cylindrical wallin communication with said hollow shaft, and there being drive meansbetween the hollow shaft and brush.

2. A tooth brush comprising a casing providing a magazine for adentifrice and a shaft housing, a hollow shaft journaled in said casing,a reversing motor in said casing for driving said hollow shaft in eitherdirection, a spiral conveyor mounted on said shaft in said magazine andthere being a valve controlled inlet port to said hollow shaft adjacenteach end of the spiral conveyor in the magazine through which the spiralconveyor feeds dentifrice to the hollow shaft, a revolvable brushsecured on the free end of the shaft housing, said brush having a hollowslotted cylindrical wall in communication with said hollow shaft, anddrive means between the hollow shaft and brush.

3. A tooth brush comprising a casing providing a magazine for adentifrice and a shaft housing, a motor driven hollow shaft journaled insaid hollow casing, a spiral conveyor mounted on said shaft in saidmagazine and therev being; an inlet port to said hollow shaft in saidmagazine through which the spiral conveyor feeds dentifrice to thehollow shaft, a manually operable clutch means between the hollow shaftand spiral conveyor, and a revolvable cylindrical brush at the free endof the shaft: housing, said brush having a, slotted, cylindrical wall incommunication with the hollow shaft, drive means between the hollowshaft and brush, and means for detachably connecting said brush to theshaft housing.

4. A tooth brush comprising a casing providing a magazine for adentifrice and a shaft housing, a motor driven hollow shaft journaled insaid casing, a spiral conveyor mounted on said shaft in said magazineand there being an inlet port to said hollow shaft in said magazinethrough which the spiral conveyor feeds dentifrice to the hollow shaft,a manually operable clutch means between the hollow shaft and spiralconveyor, and a revolvable brush remova'bly secured on the free end ofthe shaft housing, said brush having a hollow slotted cylindrical wallin communication with said hollow shaft and there being drive meansbetween the hollow shaft and brush.

5. A tooth brush comprising a casing providing a revolvable brushremovably secured on the free end of the shaft housing, said brushhaving a hollow slotted cylindrical wall in communication with saidhollow shaft.

6. A tooth brush comprising a casing providing a magazine for adentifrice and a shaft housing, a motor driven hollow shaft journaled insaid casing, a spiral conveyor mounted on said shaft in said magazineand there being an inlet port to said hollow shaft in said magazinethrough which the spiral conveyor feeds dentifrice to the hollow shaft,a manually operable clutch means between the hollow shaft and spiralconveyor, and a revolvable brush at the free end of the shaft housing,said brush having a slotted cylindrical wall in communication with thehollow shaft, drive means between the hollow shaft and wall of thebrush, and means for detachably connecting said brush to the shafthousing.

'7. A tooth brush comprising a casing providing a magazine for adentifrice and a shaft housing, a motor driven hollow shaft journaled insaid casing, a spiral conveyor mounted on said shaft in said magazineand there being an inlet port to said hollow shaft in said magazinethrough which the spiral conveyor feeds dentifrice to the hollow shaft,a manually operable clutch means between the hollow shaft and spiralconveyor, a revolvable brush at the free end of the shaft housing, drivemeans between the hollow shaft and brush, said brush having a slottedcylindrical wall in communication with said hollow shaft and aperforated bristle holding sleeve removably secured on the slottedcylindrical wall.

8. A tooth brush comprising a casing providing a magazine for adentifrice and a shaft housing,

a hollow brush rotating shaft journaled in said casing, a reversingmotor for driving said: hollow shaft in either direction, a spiralconveyor mounted on said shaft in said magazine and there being a valvecontrolled inlet port to said hollow shaft adjacent each end of thespiral conveyor through which port the spiral conveyor feeds dentifriceto the hollow shaft, and manually operated, clutch means for clutchingthe spiral conveyor to the hollow shaft.

9.v A tooth brush comprising, a casing providing a magazine for adentifrice and a shaft housin a hollow shaft journaled in said casing, areversing motor for driving said hollow shaft in either direction, ahollow brush driven from said hollow shaft, a spiral conveyor mounted onsaid shaft in said magazine and there being a valve controlled inletport to said shaft adjacent each end of the spiral conveyor throughwhich port the spiral conveyor feeds dentifrice to the hollow shaft, aclutch collar fast on the hollow shaft and arranged to clutchinglyengage one end of the spiral conveyor, a clutch collar splined to thehollow shaft and arranged to clutchingly engage the other end of thespiral conveyor, and clutch actuating means having one member extendingout through the wall of the magazine.

10. A tooth brush comprising a casing providing a magazine for adentifrice and a shaft housing, a motor driven hollow shaft journaled insaid casing, a spiral conveyor mounted on said shaft in said magazineand there being an inlet port to said hollow shaft in said magazinethrough which the spiral conveyor feeds dentifrice to the hollow shaft,a manually operable clutch means between the hollow shaft and spiralconveyor, a removable revolvable brush at the free end of the shafthousing, drive means between the hollow shaft and brush, said brushhaving a slotted cylindrical wall in communication with said hollowshaft, and a perforated bristle holding sleeve removably secured on theslotted cylindrical wall.

11. A tooth brush comprising a casing providing a magazine for adentifrice and a shaft housing, a motor driven hollow shaft journaled inthe casing, a spiral conveyor mounted on the shaft in said magazine,clutch means for clutching the spiral conveyor to the hollow shaft andthere being a port to said hollow shaft in the magazine through whichthe spiral conveyor feeds dentifrice to the hollow shaft, a pinion faston the free end of said hollow shaft, a second pinion journaled in theshaft housing and mesh- 1 ing with said first mentioned pinion, a shaftsecured to said second mentioned pinion and extending out through theend of the shaft housing, a brush having a slotted cylindrical wallsecured on said shaft housing and connected to said last named shaft,and there being a duct leading from the free end of the hollow shaft tothe interior of the slotted cylindrical wall of the brush.

12. A tooth brush comprising a casing providing a magazine for adentifrice and a shaft housing, a motor driven hollow shaft journaled inthe casing, a spiral conveyor mounted on the shaft in said magazine,clutch means for clutching'the spiral conveyor to the hollow shaft andthere being a port to said hollow shaft in the magazine through whichthe spiral conveyor feeds dentifrice to the hollow shaft, a pinion faston the free end of said hollow shaft, a second pinion journaled in theshaft housing and meshing with said first mentioned pinion, a shaftsecured to said second mentioned pinion and extending out 7 through theend of the shaft housing, a brush UNITED STATES PATENTS having a slottedcylindrical wall removably Number Name Date secured on said shafthousing and removably 1 023 708 Arundel Am: 16 1912 connected to saidlast named shaft, and there 1 1 Reiche Jan 1916 being a duct leadingfrom the free end of the 5 1604500 ga Oct 1926 hollow shaft t? theinterior of the slotted. cylin- 2162907 Bambach 1939 drical wall of hebrush. n

JOHN F. CANNON. 2,373,050 Pemck Apr. 3, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS REFERENCESCITED 10 Number Country Date The following references are of record inthe 178,486 Great Britain Apr. 19, 1922 file of this patent:

